What is in this article?:

I'm now using the final shipping version of Windows 8.1 exclusively on all of my PCs. And despite worries that Microsoft would need to fix issues between this product's release to manufacturing (RTM) and general availability (GA) in October, I can report that the firm has delivered a solid, meaningful update to Windows 8. It won't answer all of the complaints, but Windows 8.1 is a big improvement for both desktop PC and mobile device users.

Note: No leaked builds, Chinese or otherwise, were harmed in the writing of this review.

This article is of course only part of my ongoing coverage of Windows 8.1. Please refer to my series, Hands-on with Windows 8.1, which will be updated for the final shipping version of Windows 8.1 and with new articles going forward. I will also be expanding my lineup of Windows 8.1 Tips going forward. Also, Rafael Rivera and I are of course writing a new eBook, currently under the name Windows 8.1 Book. The first updates for that book will begin appearing soon.

So what is it?

Windows 8.1 is an update for both Windows 8 and Windows RT. It is also sometimes referred to as if it were a new version of Windows, where Windows 8.1 is a newer version of Windows 8 and Windows RT 8.1 is a newer version of Windows RT. I think both definitions are OK and correct.

Either way, Windows 8.1 represents a more refined, or evolved, version of the vision that Microsoft has with regards to moving Windows into a new generation of personal computing that is defined by mobile devices instead of traditional PCs and mobile apps backed by cloud services instead of heavy desktop applications back by locally stored data. As a transitionary product, Windows 8.x provides both a traditional PC environment, called the desktop, as a well as a new touch-first mobile environment that was originally called Metro. (Microsoft cannot legally use the Metro name to describe this environment, and it has confusingly not settled on a new term that was as globally applicable as Metro. The firms sometimes describes this environment as Modern, and the apps that run within it as immersive apps or Windows Store apps.)

This design was of course the source of much frustration and complaining, though Microsoft positions it as a best of both worlds-type solution. In the original version of Windows 8, the transitions between Metro and desktop were often jarring and unwelcome, and impossible to configure. But Microsoft has made improvements in Windows 8.1 that lessen the impact of these transitions and provide more user control. For example, those with traditional PCs that wish to stay in the desktop environment can mostly do so, certainly more easily than with Windows 8. And those with tablets or other modern devices can more easily stick within the Metro environment.

If that doesn't sound profound to you, the year-long drama around Windows 8 must have happened while you were off-planet. Put simply, Windows 8 disappointed virtually everyone: Those who were ready to forge ahead with modern tablets and other devices complained that it didn't go far enough and didn't offer an option to discard the desktop. And the bigger audience of traditional PC users complained—loudly—that Windows 8 was a huge compromise, with Microsoft jamming a mobile environment they did not want down their throats.

I understood both of these complaints; still do. But I never had any serious issues using Windows 8 with either device type. So I was curious to see how Microsoft would respond to the critics while retaining a firm grip on the future direction it still very much believes in. Windows 8.1 is that response.

Discuss this Article 125

When updating from W8 to W8.1 when available in October, do I need to deactivate office 365 on My W8 PC and Reactivate Office 365 on This PC in W8.1?
Same question for Windows Media Center. Does Windows Media Center migrates with the update from W8 to W8.1 or does it require a new license?

Media Centre from W8 to W8.1 (preview) does not migrate over, but you can re-install Media Centre again from W8.1 (preview) using the previous Media Centre key. I would suggest that this will probably be true with W8.1 RTM.

Personally, 8.1 is my favorite touch UI, but it's still not great for desktop use. It's far more usable on the desktop, but they should implement windowed Metro apps (kinda like Media Center can). I think Windows 8 could have been better at launch, but I think it ended up being the feedback and fallout edition to make 8.1 what it is.

Also, looks like there's a typo on page one, second to last paragraph. Forget probably should be forge?

Fortunately, there are cheap 3rd-party apps which provide some of the features many find problematic with the Win8.x desktop.

Personally, I use StarDock's ModernMix (Windowed Metro Apps) and Start8 (Classic Start-Menu) to allow me to use my dual-24" monitor desktop in a manner that I am more comfortable with, but there are other good solutions available.

Windows 8 would've been rejected even if it was 8.1 that initially launched. Yes, it's better, but... it's "a change" and most people don't like change.

Microsoft has a destination, and they really have no choice but to go there... nudging the public along. In a few years... probably by Windows 9 or 10, people will just accept the "Metro/Modern" interface and stop complaining. Microsoft just has to weather this... like they weathered Vista. Hopefully they'll still be relevant when the clouds clear.

But like I said above, Microsoft had no choice. They had to make a play into mobile, and they had to leverage their strength (the desktop) to get their foot in the door. Now, their foot is in the door. Soon, it will be a leg... then a torso... then everything. I find it interesting that many critics of Windows 8/Metro say that Microsoft has to compete in mobile... and then criticize their very ambitious attempt to make Windows more mobile. Some critics (it's clear) just hate Microsoft.

The comedy of errors, however, needs to end (at least for a while). Microsoft needs to get the pricing of the new Surfaces right. I also think that they should license Windows Phone OS & RT for a penny, so they can still compete with Google for OEMs. I think they should still prevent OEMs from fragmenting Windows Phone & RT... but they shouldn't charge them for it either. They can make their money off of app sales... as market share grows.

Finally, I'm a little concerned that the Surface brand is tainted (with consumers) because Microsoft botched the introduction so much. In short, it's been Zuned. If that's the case, then they need a new brand... but shouldn't abandon it. I own a Surface RT and it's a beautiful device. It's a shame Microsoft may have defiled the Surface brand. I suppose they could buy BlackBerry and rebrand the tablets as PlayBooks--a better name in my opinion anyway.

I don't like how they made IE11 open in half screen windows when you click on links in "Metro" Apps like People (especially for small laptop like my Lenovo Yoga 13) , it was full screen in 8.0 and I liked it that way, they didn't even make an option to change how metro IE behave in this scenario. They also need to fix an issue where we can delete Synced tabs from previous installation on the same computer, and finally why did they make closing Apps take a click + a move + waiting 3 seconds + dropping ? it was less dramatic with dragging and dropping (1 second closing)

I agree there. I wish you could better control how Apps engage IE. I use Next-Gen Reader (best RSS reader I've ever used IMO), and it pops to a 320px sidebar (with no valuable content) and giving the rest of the screen to the IE window. I'd rather it just opens IE in full screen, but I can't figure out how to do that. I'm guessing it's an in-app setting, but it's a puzzling behavior.

Great article and reflects most of the same experiences I have had with Windows 8 and 8.1.

I'm disappointed that one click archive and more importantly categories haven't made it into the final mail app. I moved from Gmail to outlook.com once Microsoft introduced categories to replace my Gmail labels and have many categories set that I can't view in the windows 8 mail app on my Surface.

Metro apps need more functionality. It's really that simple. I think a lot of people would use Metro apps (even on the desktop) if they just weren't so dumbed-down. People expect Windows to give you options, and Metro fails in that respect. Windows 8.1 is better than 8, but it still needs more--a lot more. How can I replace Media Player or Zune software with Xbox Music when it's so difficult to perform the same tasks? Answer: I won't.

I really hope they finally got sending emails from Desktop working properly. No amount of configuration in Win8 has allowed me to use Send To to open up Windows Mail. That really drove the point home to me that Windows 8 was an unfinished product.

My biggest problem with the Windows 8.1 preview on my Surface RT is that the Network Connection Broker service keeps terminating with the error "Invalid Data"... leaving me networkless until I restart the device. It happens almost daily. I'm really hoping this is fixed in the final release.

The de-emphasis on Libraries is truly troubling and entirely the wrong direction to go... they should be emphasizing it MORE. Thankfully you can turn libraries back on in the File Explorer UI on the desktop, so you're back to normal.

The removal of the Photos app's ability to gather all your photos in one place is also deeply troubling, and very annoying. I now have to hunt around in various apps for that photo I saw. They should have been EXPANDING the ability to integrate with the photos hub, not destroying that amazing and unique functionality. Ugh. Seriously wrong call there, Microsoft.

And they still haven't added the ability to "fetch files" from other PCs associated with your Microsoft Account from the Skydrive app... you have to go to the SkyDrive website to do that. So I have TWO "SkyDrive" tiles on my start screen, so I can select the correct one based on what I want to do. This seems stupid. There should be ONE app, it should be called "File Manager" or "My Files" or something, and it should allow me to browse the local PC, any connected PC, or Skydrive. It should be one fluent, consistent approach.

That said, most of the other improvements are so natural you almost don't even notice them. Seriously, when things started opening side-by-side, I didn't even blink the first few times because it just seemed so natural and correct. It was only after a bit that I realized, 'Hey, it didn't used to do that! Slick!" Basically, it feels like it's working as it's SUPPOSED to.

Great steps, but the apps still need a lot of work, many are NOT compatible with the 50/50 splits, and we need more functionality, and more discoverability and consistency. It'd also be nice if the desktop got a bit more love... including perhaps more "themes"/skins, including one that is more flat/metro-like (including all system icons and such).

I agree pmbAustin, it is really frustrating to have shared photos on Skydrive and not be able to view them through Metro Photos or Metro Skydrive. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I don't think so.

Funny thing is my WinPhone does all this perfectly, everything shared just shows up. Come on MS, WTH!

I don't like the new Search. I don't like the fact that if I'm in an app, say Netflix, and I engage the Search charm, I get defaulted to an 'Everywhere' search and need two extra taps before Netflix is even ready to be searched. I don't like how they sold a dream at the launch of Win8, that search would be consistent in the charms and not clutter the UI.. then they reversed direction. It would have been good if they announced an API for apps like Netflix to show up in the Search Hero, but they didn't. It would have been good if they made it easier/quicker to change Search scope in the charm, but they didn't. I hate how for apps like XBox Music you can't even use the charm anymore, you can only use the in-UI search which is only on the main page. They could have brought the new Search in with a simple meld of the old and the new. Same is true for Windows phone...

I'm sure the Netflix app (and others) will be updated shortly after 8.1 is available, and will include an in-app search feature that will by-pass those extra steps you need to take in the mean-time.

Microsoft does have a seriously problem with consistency here, and they need to really think through and lay out the UI guidelines, not only for all other developers, but for all the various developers in-house.

xbox music is still useless to me. I have over 100gb of music on my server that it can't / won't access for some silly "location can't be indexed" requirement.
media player is better for me, anyway. a lot less cumbersome, imo.

"Second, and less happily, Photos has lost the ability to view photos on other services like Facebook and Flickr, and it can't see photos on other PCs on your home network or elsewhere, as it could before".

Sigh. The Photos team should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. It's a massive step backwards.

gcoupe Thanks for the link to that thread. The only reason I never went to the forums with my complaint in the first place, was that I was in disbelief that they would cripple the once useful photos app to being something I never even use anymore. I hope lots of folks will visit that link and throw in their two cents. Lets get MS to do just one more 180 before launch. This is one area that Paul's favorite word to describe MS efforts shines. STUPIFIED.

Yeah, this last week, I boot into Windows 8 as default, and transferred Outlook to be on Windows 8. Not because I want to, or that its compelling. But because it is 'forced onto me' my necessity. To develop in VS 2012 for Windows Phone 8 or Windows 8, means building in Windows 8 environment.

DOS to Windows 3.1, and then to Windows 95 were compelling transitions for the enhanced experience. The weak Windows 8 (Metro) environment on desktop still makes it an irritation to most users. I am waiting for Windows 8.1 GA to make it a little more pleasant, but basically it seems to b e helping users avoid Metro. (Which actually works well on WP7. Not so well on WP8, because they have given up on Hubs, and gone with excessive Apps centric approach, now we end up with a awful long Apps lists on Page 2 instead. )

Were you able to use the full 8.1 version to upgrade an existing, activated 8.0 system, using the 8.0 product key, yet still remain "activated"? Microsoft hasn't yet to enabled online activation of a fresh install of 8.1, requiring use of the phone-in method for 8.1 activation.

Regarding "..fully or partially disable some Metro features such as the Switcher, Charms, and even the Start screen"

Is it possible to turn off the touchpad gestures for bringing up the switcher and the charms bar (swipe in from left and right respectively)?
Accidentally invoking these are my biggest irritations when working in the desktop environment in Windows 8.

The biggest problem with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 is the fact that Microsoft has not sold a consumer operating system since Windows ME. They have been selling a business operating system masquerading as a consumer OS. Just look at the properties tab of your hard drive. Quota’s is as out of date as 1980 hair styles. Most families have a single account on their computer or more often or not each member has their own computer. But maybe someone must slip Microsoft a note to tell them that we have hard drives so cheap and big, we don’t have to care about a quota. The reason libraries is de-emphasise is because they realised, people don’t use them. They simply save files in default locations and most computers I would bet have a single drive.

They truly missed an opportunity with Windows 8. Instead of building a true consumer operating system that is simple to use, secure and reliable, they took the crazy route. There are glimpses of simple in Windows 8. PC Settings is a good case in point.

The other problem is that Windows 8 does not connect with Microsoft’s faithful. If you look at the duds over the years, (Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows Vista) all of them treated the faithful that adopts operating systems first with disrespect. Windows 98 was buggy; Windows ME was a resource hog. Windows Vista was just slow and the drivers were terrible at launch. Everyone knows someone that is good with computers. These are the people they will turn to when they need to buy one for advice. I bet every single one of those faithful is dishing it.

If Microsoft is looking to get their groove back, they need to realise that Windows as a platform needs to share common execution engines with common API’s, with UI’s that serve each platform. Windows Phone, Windows 8 should have one set of WinRT API’s, heck, they should have a single store. Microsoft cannot compete in the sub $200 device market with Windows RT or Windows 8. Phone on the other hand will open up that market. And no, they will not compete with themselves or loose sales. Microsoft simply is not even considered in that market. People looking for a device in the $200 market, their sole consideration is Andriod, Andriod or Andriod.

While I have some minor gripes here and there about many of the changes, I do think many improvements have been made to the idea of Windows 8, which is an idea I have generally supported through its development.

My biggest complaint is the changing of how search functions. I actually make heavy use of smart search for control panel functions, app starting, and yes, even file searches in the system on a whole, since, with indexed data, it can be incredibly fast. I actually really like it's default behaviour, and wish there was at least an option for the old method.

Manual activation? Good god Microsoft. A key is a KEY - and should work. What happens to people that get tired of trying and try one of the myriad free office products on the market? Oh yea, they buy an iPad and stop caring... Sound familiar?

It's really nice for you to recommend the Windows 8.1 upgrade to us, but mid-October is still over a month away. Can you point me to a site where I can download the final bits for myself. If Microsoft made these bits available right now..I would buy it..at full price..with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

I have seen Apple store employees replace iPhones for customers that couldn't take enough care to keep their devices out of a mud puddle. And I can't even buy the one product that I need most right now from Microsoft.

The mere fact that I must wait, and wait, and continue waiting, to get a version of Windows 8 that is...only mildly annoying...has completely destroyed my view of Microsoft. This company cares little about even their most loyal customers.

It runs slower by a degree that is only detectable if you run benchmarks. 1-3 FPS in games, milliseconds in apps. Performance is NOT a valid reason to stay away from Win8; there are reasons, yes, but that isn't one of them.

My big problem with it is that it has TWO different IE`s and it defaults to some janky metro app to show my pictures or view videos , or music...Microsoft lost me after 7.
If I tell it to boot straight to desktop , it should NOT open my files with metro apps .

i'd say they punted on the start menu. a little windows icon taht brings you to the start screen? yeeech. it was so much easier to search for files using the win7 Start menu. I expect to have STart8 installed for a long time. I ***hate*** searching for files in 8.1 (at least my preview build). if you press search, you have to select "files" and then it only shows you two files so you click on those and it takes you to another (modal) screen which has the results in who knows what order.... win7 was far superior for local file searching IMHO

Just upgraded my 8.1 Preview to RTM via uh special sources :) Didn't have to reinstall a thing. Office apps just opened and ran through a MSI update and worked no problem. Worked very easily. Metro apps were all there and working for me.

I do wish the Image Backup feature had scheduling? Maybe I missed it but this is something I wish was better and a more complete solution. Also file history is ok but the ability to choose more source folders etc. would be nice.

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